Originally Posted by
switters
Yes. I still have 200k UR points. I can transfer 170k to cover the UA award.
This is a question of available options, based on these assumptions:
1. I want to fly F.
2. I'd prefer to use points/miles, even at relatively low redemption value, to cash.
3. My dates are somewhat inflexible.
I know that booking these flights with UR points isn't the best use of them. But truth is, I don't value them that highly because they don't suit the way I travel. I've found that awards are very hard to come by on the routes I travel, especially since I often travel with my wife and daughter and need 3 awards rather than just one. I've been trying to use these points for over a year without success, so I'm just happy to be able to use them at all.
So it seems like I either book the award on UA (or AA), or I cancel and pay cash for a RT ticket in F on BA. I can do that, but I think I'd rather use points and if I do that I can't see too many better options at this stage.
Those are indeed the two options. Given what you describe, it seems to make more sense to keep your award and get another one from UA or AA indeed for the other direction. You don't say when you are travelling which matters when it comes to deciding whether to "rush" to make the other booking or not.